Resilient bag support



Dec. 2, 1952 F. J. MALAGIO 2,620,188

RESILIENT BAG SUPPORT Filed April 5, 1950 2 SHEETS---SHEET 1 Fred J.Malay/'0 INVENTOR.

F. J. MALAGIO RESILIENT BAG SUPPORT Dec. 2, 1952 Filed April 5 V 2SI-IEETS-SHEET 2 Fred J. Ma/a'gio IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENT BAG SUPPORTFred J. Malagio, Akron, Ohio Application April 5, 1950, Serial No.154,058

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in exercising apparatus forfootball players, and the principal object of the invention is tofacilitate convenient, expeditious and efiicient teaching or instructionof football players in proper tech nique of blocking and tackling usedin a football game.

The above object is achieved by the provision of a padded, elongated bagwhich is suspended by resiliently controlled universal means from asupporting standard, an important feature of the invention residing inthe structural arrangement of the standard which is such that it doesnot interfere with a trainees movement as the latter contacts the bag.

Another feature of the invention lies in the structural arrangement ofthe resiliently controlled universal suspension means for the bag which,when contacted by the trainee, resembles as closely as possible theactual reaction which a player encounters when contacting an opponent inan actual game.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity ofconstruction, in its efficient and safe operation, in its pleasingappearance, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement andconstruction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention in use,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the bag and its suspensionmeans,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 44 in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the invention, this view being takenin the direction of the arrow 5 in Figure 3.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in thespecification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionconsists of an exercising apparatus for football players, this beingdesignated generally by the reference character in and embodying in itsconstruction a suitable base i2 such as may consist of spaced sidemembers or skids l4 rigidly secured together by a cross memher Itconstituting a, coaching platform or stand. When the invention is inuse, this base is stationary on the ground.

A standard designated generally by the reference character I 8 ismounted on the base I2, this standard assuming the form of a tube havingan upright portion 20, a substantially horizontal portion 22 at theupper end of the upright portion 26, and a down turned portion or neck24 at the outer end of the horizontal portion 22, as is best shown inFigure 1. The lower end of the upright portion is provided with a flange26 whereby it is rigidly secured to the cross member IQ of the base l2,and if desired, a pair of convergent braces 28 may extend from the sidemembers M of the base l2 to the horizontal portion 22 of the standardl8, substantially as shown.

An elongated bag 30, padded with mohair, or the like, is suspended fromthe neck 24 of the standard I8 by resiliently controlled universalmeans, this being presently described.

A tubular or cylindrical adapter 32 is secured in the tubular neck 24 ofthe standard l8 by transversely extending fastening elements 34 (seeFigure 2) the adapter 32 projecting downwardly from the neck andaffording what may be called a stationary spring seat comprising acircular flange 36 and a circular shoulder 38 under the flange.Moreover, the adapter 32 includes a flat tongue 40 which projectsdownwardly from the shoulder 38 and is pivotally connected by means of atransverse pin 42 to a forked upper end portion of a universal jointmember 44.

The lower end portion of the latter, in turn, is pivotally connected bya transverse pin 46 to a tongue 48 provided at the upper end of a screwthreaded shaft 50, which shaft operatively engages a nut 52 secured tothe upper end of a tube 54.

The nut 52 may be welded to the tube 54 as indicated at 56, and almostthe entire length of the tube is disposed axially within theaforementioned bag 30, there being provided a flange or disc 58intermediate the ends of the tube 54 so as to discourage anylongitudinal shifting of the tube in the bag.

The tube 54 accommodates the lower end portion of the shaft 50, while anadjustable spring seat is positioned on the shaft above the bag andcomprises a flange 60 having a shoulder 62 thereon, as is bestillustrated in Figure 2. A lock nut 64 is positioned on the shaftbetween the flange and the nut 52, while a suitable compression spring66 is interposed between the flanges 36, 60, whereby to urge the shaft50 and the longitudinal axis of the bag 30 in substantial verticalalignment with the axis of the adapter 32 in the neck 24.

It is to be noted that the pin 42 is disposed at right angles to the pin46 so that what may be called a universal connection between the shaft50 and the adapter 32 is achieved, this permitting the bag 30 to swingin any direction when it is contacted by a trainee, as exemplifiedin'Figure '1. However, the action of the coil spring 66 is such as tourge the bag 30 to return to its normal position, thus effectivelysimulating the reaction which a player receives upon contact with anopponent in an actual game. I

The resiliency of the spring 66 may be adjusted by simply rotating thenut64, and after an appropriate adjustment has been made, the bag 30together with the tube 54 and the .nut 52 may be rotated on the shaft50, so that the nut 52 abuts the nut 64 to provide a locking effect.

It is to be observed that by virtue of=the constructionof the standard18 and by virtue of =the'arrangement of the braces-28, swinging of thebag 30 is facilitated without obstructing or otherwise hindering themovements of the trainee.

' It isbelieved thatthe advantages and use of theinvention will beclearly understood fromthe foregoing disclosure and accordingly, furtherdescription thereof at'this point is deemed unnec- "essary.

-While in the foregoing there has been'shown .and described thepreferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the'details and construction of parts maybe resorted'to withoutdeparting from the :spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A football dummy comprising a support, an adapter secured in said"support and projecting 'downwardly'therefrom to provide a station--aryspring seat and a tongue below the spring seat, -a universalcoupling member pivoted to saidtongue, a'screw threaded shaft connected'to isaid coupling member, an adjustable spring sea't provided on saidshaft, a compression :'spring interposed between said spring seats, and

-vided on'said shaft, a compression :spring interposed between saidspring seats, and an elongated bag mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid shaft together with a tube secured in a longitudinally extendingposition in said bag, and a nut rigidly secured to said tube, said shaftextending into said tube and operatively engaging said nut.

3. A football dummy comprising a support, an adapter secured in saidsupport and projecting downwardly therefrom to provide a stationaryspring seat and a tongue below the spring seat, a universal couplingmember pivoted .to said tongue, a screw threaded shaft connected to saidcoupling member, an adjustable spring seat provided on said shaft, acompression spring interposed between said spring seats,

and an elongated bag mounted on the lower end portion of said shafttogether with a lock nut on said shaft for sustaining said adjustablespring seat in a preadjusted-position.

FRED J .'MALAGIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 704,265 McMaster July 8, 1902713,832 Bailey Nov. 18, 1902 1,651,090 Hart Nov. 29, 19 27 1,962,088Crowther June 5, 1934 2,234,364 Carberry Mar. 11, 1941 2,237,600 GilmanApr. 8, 1941 2,466,954 King Apr. '12, 1949 2,474,690 Robinson et al June28, 1949 2,477,827 Robinson Aug. 2, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Gobacl,'Football Magicman, January '4, 1937.

